Foot-throttle controlling mechanism



F. C. SMITH.

FOOT THROTTLE CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE-I13, 1917.

1,343,378. PatentedJune 15, 1920.

. F. C. SMITH. FOOT THROTTLE CONTROL-LING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I3 19 1,343,378. Y PatentedJune15,1920. 35H;EEEEEEEEE 2.

F. C. SMITH.

FOOT THROTTLE CONTROLLING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED JUNE13, 1911.

1,343,37 I v Patented June 15,1920.

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. 52 22227! W ail-2i FREDERICK G. SMITH, OF MARION, OHIO.

FOOT-THROTTLE CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 15, 1920.

Application filed June is, 1917. Serial no. 174,491.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it lmown that I, FREDERICK C. SMITH,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Marion, in the county ofMarion and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Foot-Throttle Controlling Mechanism, of ,which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to foot pedal mechanism for automobiles. The objectof my invention is the provision of a pedal which forms a suitable restor bearing for the foot of the operator of an automobile. The foot pedaloperates in conjunction with the'ac-' celerator and serves to regulatethe supply of fuel to insure a uniform feed or supply to the engine.Under ordinary conditions the pressure upon the accelerator by the footof the operator varies when driving over uneven surfaces.-

The device comprises a foot plate having aheel portion and a toeportion. The toe portion is arranged to engage the accelerator and ishinged to the heel portion and is capable of independent movement.

The heel portion is fastened to a rocking support which lin turn isattached to .a bracket fastened to the floor of the automobile. ,Thebearing between the support due to the friction device the heel portionremains in its set position when the foot of the driver is removed fromthe plate. When pressure is removed from the plate the toe portion ofthe plate is forced upward by the ordinary spring accelerator so as toautomatically cut supply of fuel.

The friction 03 the bearing which is centrally.

located between the heel and toe portion preplate.

support is tilted forward or backward and tension of the Fig. 3 is aplan "view of the toe portion of the plate.

Fig. 4' is a plan view of the heel portion of the plate.

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the plate with the rocker support.

Fig. 6 is a bottom showin the friction device attached.

Fig. is a modification of Fig. 1. Referring'to Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6, itwill be noted that the device as a whole is mounted to the floor 13 ofan automobile through which the accelerator 20 passes. The bracket 11 isfastened to-the floor by means of the bolts 12. The rocking support 9 isfastened to the bracket by means of the bolt 16 and lock-nut 17 as shownin Fig. 6. Interposed .between the nut 17 and the support 9 is a tensionspring 15 for regulating the friction between the support 9 and the heldin place by means of the flanges 5. The

heel plate is provided with a tongue 21 through which passes a hingebolt 22. This hinge bolt when the device is assembledalso passes throughthe ears 3 of the toe section 1 of the plate. This toe section is alsopro vided with the flanges 2 to prevent the foot sli ping from theplate.

s shown in Fig. 5, the rocking support 9 is provided with the" slots 14Lthrough which the bolts 7 and 8 pass. These slots provide means forreadily adjusting the support in relation to the foot plate.

When the device is in the position shown in Fig. 1 the foot of theoperator, is supposed to be resting upon and depressing the entire plateso that the toe portion 1 engages the accelerator 20.: In this positionthe pressure of the foot of the operator is equally balanced between theheel and toe portions, the main pressure being upon the central. bearingitself. This manner of balancing the pressure and the provision of thefriction device shown in Fig. 6 prevents any variation in the operationof the accelerator when driving over uneven surfaces.

view of the foot plate Fig. 2 shows the position of the device when thefoot of the operator is removed from the plate. In such an event thetension spring of the accelerator forcesthe toe portion of the plate inan upward direction so-as to automatically cut off the supply of fuel.

Referring to .Fig'. 6, it will be noted that a washer 26 is interposedbetween the spring 15 and the support 9, whilea similar washer 26 isinterposed between the support 9 and the bracket 11..- These washers arepreferably of fiber so as to increase the friction between the supportand the bracket,

From the foregoing it will be seen that the footplate as a whole isadjustable in relation to its position upon the bearing'by means of thelongitudinal slots 14: in the rocker support 9.

In the o eration of the device the operator places is foot upon theplate and exerts plate. After the pressure is removed from pressure inadownward and forward direction to cause the toe portion 1 to engage theaccelerator 20. The pressure exerted naturally causes the rocker su port9 to turn upon. the bearing and to ric tionally hold the heel portion 41in position. By increasing the forward pressure the supply of fuel canbe increased as desired and as the support of the foot is mainlyupon-the central bearing it follows that. no variation of movement ofthe accelerator 20 occurs.- The operator in order to decrease the supplyof fuel exerts pressure upon the heel portion,

thuslifting the toe portion 1 and allowing the-accelerator 20 to moveupward under its own spring tension and decrease the supply of fuel.

When the foot of the operator is removed from theplate the toe portion 1is immediately lifted in an upward direction by means of theaccelerator, 20, thus cutting off the supply of fuel controlled thereby.

The modification shown in Fig. 7 has the entire plate hin ed at theextreme rear or' heel portion.

he foo't plate assumes the position shown in dotted lines when pressureis exerted upon the plate and as soon as the pressure is removed. theplate assumes the position shown in full lines.

With either form of device shown and described the foot plate as a wholeis frictionally operated when pressure is exerted by the foot of theoperator thus avoiding any lrregularlty of the accelerator as long asthe foot of the operator rests upon the the plate the accelerator isfree torestore to its normal position. v

, Having thus described my invention'what I desire to secure by LettersPatent is:

1. In a foot throttle controlling device,-

the combination of a foot plate provided with a hinged heel and toeportion, a bearmg for supporting the heel portion, said bearing providedwith a friction device for maintaining the heel portion in any desiredposition independent of the toe portion.

2. In a foot throttle controlling device,.

the combination of a foot plate provided with a heel and toe portion,said portions being hinged together, and means for holdthe-foot of theoperator, said toe operation being controlled by the foot throttleindependent of the foot of the operator.

4. In a foot throttle controlling device, the combination of a footplate" provided with heel and toeportions, a common bearing forsupporting said foot plate and upon which it .rocks means for holdingtheheel portion in any desired position independent of the position ofthe toe portion.

5. In a foot throttlecontrolling device, the combination "of a footplate provided with hinged heel and toe portions, a comm0n support forsaid plate, means associated with said support for holding theheel'portion in any desired'position, said toe portion being capable ofmovementindependent of the heel portion. 4

6. Ina foot throttle controlling device, the combination of a foot plateroviding a heel and a toe portion, and a earing for supporting saidplate upon which it is adapted to move, the heel and toe portion of saidplate being arranged to move independent of one another upon saidbearing;

7. In a foot throttle controlling device, the combination of a footplate provided with a heel and the toe portion, .each of said platesbeing arranged to operateinde- .pendently of one another.

8. In a foot throttlev controlling device, the combination of a footplate provided with a heel and the toe portion for supporting the footof an automobile operator, the toe portion being arranged to engage thefoot throttle, said plate to be arranged to be placed in any position bythe foot of the operator,

means associated with the heel portion for maintaining it in anyposition independent of the toe portion.

- 9. In a foot throttle controlling device,

the combination of a foot plate comprising hinged heel and toe portionaasupport for said plate attached to the heel portion, said supportattached to a bearing arranged to be attached tothe floor of anautomobile, said bearing serving to maintain the heel portion of saidplate in any desired position independent of the position of the toeporion.

10. In a foot throttle controlling device, the combination of a footplate comprising a plurality of independently movable secin any desiredposition independent of the" remaining section. I

12. The combination of a foot throttle controlling device comprising afoot plate.

provided with hinged heel and toe portions, a floor bracket arranged tobe attached to the floor of an automobile, a rocking support attached tosaid floor bracket, means for fastening'said support tothe hee1 portionof said footplate, and means assoclated with said support for holdingthe heel portion of said plate in any desired position independent ofthe toe portion. c 13. Ina foot throttle controlling device thecombination of a foot plate provide with a heel and toe portion andmeansfor,

holding the heel portion in a position independent of the position ofthe toe portion. In testimony whereof I afiix my signature "in thepresence of two witnesses.

. FREDERICK 0. SMITH. I Witnesses:

MARY OoHs, Hno'roa S. Yomve.

